If you're not a natural list maker, we get it. However, when it comes to keeping your house clean and fresh, nothing beats a house cleaning checklist. At Molly Maid, we follow a proven strategy to achieve the most comprehensive cleaning. Our professional cleaning checklist ensures we don't miss a thing or take all day to get the job done! Take it from the pros—a checklist is an effective tool for cleaning more in less time, and we want to show you how and why. Surprised we’d share our secrets? We’re so passionate about housekeeping that we love to help people learn how to clean their homes faster and easier. And if and when you need us, you know we’re ready to help. So, use our checklist for cleaning the house efficiently and thoroughly. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents:
General Checklist for Cleaning the House
Using a checklist for house cleaning on a routine basis helps get you motivated and keeps you on track. This checklist includes general cleaning tips you should use for daily housekeeping and anytime you clean. So gather your cleaning supplies, crank up some of your favorite tunes, and let's get to work.
Declutter
Clearing out clutter means you'll have less to manage and clean. Be objective and purge books, magazines, newspapers, DVDs, furniture, toys the kids have outgrown, old clothes, and shoes. Make two piles as you declutter—one for the trash and one to donate or recycle. Once you're done, clear out the surplus clutter and organize the items you've kept.
After you purge clutter, you should have more room for storage. Take advantage of the opportunity and reorganize your closets, cabinets, and other storage areas for optimal use. Put loose books on a shelf, stack games in a TV cabinet, and keep clothes and shoes neatly stored.
Dust and Damp-Wipe
Start high and move your way down. Using dry and dampened microfiber cloths will make it easier to remove dust. These dusting tips will help to lower allergens and improve your home's air quality. Dampen a cloth and tie it to the end of a mop or broom to access high or hard-to-reach spots. This is an easy way to remove cobwebs. To clean slatted blinds, use the string to close them one way and dust them, then close them the other way and repeat. It's more effective and efficient than cleaning each slat individually.
Don’t forget to clean the tops of doors, fans, light fixtures, picture frames, and knick-knacks. When wiping the face of framed photos, TV screens, and computer monitors, use glass cleaner on your microfiber cloth to avoid streaking. Then work your way down, dusting furniture, shelves, and other surfaces, and finish up by dusting the baseboards.
Pro Cleaning Tip: Using a dry sheet to wipe down baseboards will help repel pet hair and dust for weeks.
Vacuum
Ensure your bag/compartment isn’t full, and use the recommended settings and attachments. Vacuum the floors and rugs throughout the house and use the attachments to access corners and other hard-to-reach areas. Vacuum under the couch and chair cushions, and get into the nooks and crannies to remove dust, dirt, and food debris.
Sweep and Mop
Use your broom to clean hard surface floors and then mop them. Start at the farthest corner of each room and work your way out the entry door. It may help to use your vacuum with an attachment to clean behind toilets, under furniture, and other tight spots. Rinse your mop after completing each 4 x 4-foot area, and change out the mop water when it gets too dirty.
Room by Room House Cleaning Checklist
Using a general cleaning list like the one above will help keep your home cleaner longer and make thorough cleaning that much easier. When you want to give your home a top-to-bottom clean, tackling one room at a time makes the job more manageable. You can use this checklist for cleaning the house by breaking down the whole job into smaller chores. Whether you clean one room each day or designate a cleaning day for several rooms, this list will keep you on task.
Tidying up the Kitchen
- Remove debris from the countertops and wash them with a damp microfiber cloth and an all-purpose cleaner.
- Rinse the cloth well and wipe down the exterior and interior of cabinet doors and the cabinet pulls.
- Clean the exterior of your kitchen appliances, including the stovetop.
- Run a hot water cycle on your dishwasher with a cup of baking soda to freshen it.
- Scrub the inside and outside of the microwave and other small appliances.
- Clean the kitchen sink and pour baking soda down the drain to control odors.
- Sweep and mop the floors, working from the far corner to the entryway.
Make Your Bathroom Shine
- Remove bath rugs, trashcans, and anything in the tub or shower.
- Remove the shower curtain and wash it in your washer, or hand wash it in the tub.
- Use an all-purpose cleaner to spray down the shower walls, doors, and tub, then scrub them with a nylon scrubbing pad.
- Apply grout cleaner to the grout and let it sit for 20 minutes.
- Rinse the shower walls and tub.
- Use an all-purpose cleaner to clean the vanity, sink, and faucet, then rinse.
- Wipe down the mirror with a cloth and glass cleaner.
- Mop the floor with hot water and an all-purpose cleaner, and rinse off the residue.
- (find more bathroom cleaning tips on our blog)
Refresh the Bedroom
- Pick up any clothing or other clutter from the floor.
- Strip the bed and sprinkle baking soda on the mattress, then vacuum and put on fresh bedding.
- Dust the tops of windows and doors, then work your way down, dusting all surfaces.
- Clean the windows with glass cleaner.
- Vacuum or sweep the bedroom floor.
Living Room Cleaning
- Declutter by removing anything that doesn't belong in the living room.
- Dust from top to bottom with damp microfiber cloths, including picture frames, shelves, and furniture.
- Vacuum or sweep the floor.
- Clean the windows and window treatments like blinds.
- Remove any loose cushions and vacuum them and the area beneath the cushions.
- Wipe the TV and other electronics with a clean, damp microfiber cloth.
- Use rubbing alcohol and a paper towel to disinfect remotes, game controllers, and similar small electronics.
Dining Room Cleaning
- Dust from the top down using a microfiber cloth, starting with the light fixture or ceiling fan.
- Clean the windows and blinds.
- Remove everything from the dining table and wipe it down with a damp microfiber cloth.
- Wipe down the legs or pedestals of the table.
- Damp-wipe the dining chairs from top to bottom, including between slats and other tight spots.
- Vacuum or sweep the floor.
Cleaning the Laundry Room
- Declutter by moving cleaning supplies into cabinets and removing laundry baskets and anything else on the floor.
- Damp-wipe the light fixture or ceiling fan, the ledges above doors and windows, and other surfaces, high to low.
- Use an all-purpose cleaner to wipe down the exterior of the washer and dryer.
- Wipe the laundry counter and cabinet doors with an all-purpose cleaner.
- Sweep and mop the floor.
- Wash any dirty laundry.
Molly Maid's Printable House Cleaning Checklist
Make cleaning less of a hassle when you use a professional house cleaning checklist printable from Molly Maid.
Need Help With Your House Cleaning?
Whether you use our house cleaning checklist or call in a team of professional cleaners, Molly Maid is committed to helping you enjoy a clean home more often. Molly Maid has served customers across the country since 1984 with more than 450 convenient locations. And with service that is backed by the Neighborly Done Right Promise®, your satisfaction is guaranteed!
Each location is locally owned and operated, every cleaning professional is insured, and we never require a contract. Get your free personalized quote today and let Molly Maid tackle the dirty work.
